"Even if a campus does not receive an improvement required rating ... the district or campus is still held accountable for improvement," Culbertson said. "... This is done so that areas of weakness can be addressed before they are hit with an improvement required rating."

Unlike the new accountability system, the system safeguards are not new to the state, Culbertson said.

"We've always had the system safeguards in there," Culbertson said. "... The system safeguards are also linked to national expectations."

In other business, the board will take action on four proposed courses in the process technology and instrumentation and electronic technology fields.

The Victoria school district partnered with Victoria College and industry experts to develop the content of those courses, said Diane Boyett, VISD communications director.

"We're seeking approval from the state for these courses to be accepted as math and science credits toward graduation," Boyett said. "These courses are extremely relevant to the career paths of students."

These courses are designed to meet the state's new graduation plan requirements tied to House Bill 5.

"We suspect other districts across the state will be replicating these courses," Boyett said. "We're also working to be responsive to the needs to local employers."

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A WORK IN PROGRESS

The nine campuses requiring improvement are:

• Chandler Elementary

• Crain Elementary

• F.W. Gross Elementary

• Guadalupe Elementary

• O'Connor Elementary

• Rowland Elementary

• Shields Elementary

• Patti Welder Middle School

• Stroman Middle School

The six campuses not meeting system safeguards but did meet state standards include: